[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39475-39477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16799]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


International Mail: Proposed Changes in Prices and Fees

AGENCY: Postal Service.TM

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In July 2010, the Postal Service filed a notice of mailing 
services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission, 
effective in January 2011. This proposed rule provides the mailing 
standards that would accompany new prices in 2011.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before August 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, 
U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., RM 3436, 
Washington, DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written 
comments between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 
USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 11th Floor North, 475 L'Enfant 
Plaza, SW., Washington, DC. E-mail comments, containing the name and 
address of the commenter, may be sent to: [email protected], 
with a subject line of ``International January 2011 Price Change.'' 
Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obataiye B. Akinwole at 703-292-5260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is proposing to change 
international postage prices and fees in January 2011. Proposed prices 
are, or will be available, under Docket Number(s) R2010-XX on the 
Postal Regulatory Commission's Web site, http://www.prc.gov.
    This proposed rule includes price changes and several minor 
classification changes for First-Class Mail International[supreg], and 
extra services. We also plan to realign Israel's First-Class Mail 
International price groups.
    This proposed rule contains the revisions to Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual 
(IMM[supreg]) that we would adopt to implement the new prices.

First-Class Mail International

    Our proposal would increase prices for First-Class Mail 
International approximately 6.7 percent.

Postcards

    The proposed price structure for postcards includes two separate 
price categories; Canada and Mexico, and all other countries. Canada 
and Mexico, previously priced individually, now share the same price 
group. The price for postcards increases by approximately 2.8 percent.

International Extra Services

    Our proposal increases prices for extra services by approximately 
11.8 percent. The prices for the following First-Class Mail 
International extra services are proposed to change for:

 Certificate of Mailing
 Customs Clearance and Delivery Fee
 International Reply Coupons
 International Business Reply Service
 Registered MailTM
 Return Receipt
 Restricted Delivery

Israel

    To align operational efficiencies more closely with costs, we 
propose moving Israel from Price Group 8 to Price Group 5 for First-
Class Mail International service only.
    The prices and fees proposed in this notice, if adopted, would 
become effective in January 2011.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)] regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public 
comment on the following proposed revisions to the Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM), 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 
CFR Part 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, International postal services.
    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 20 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 20--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 20 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 407, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-
3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.

    2. Revise the following sections of the Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM) as 
follows:
* * * * *

[[Page 39476]]

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International 
Mail Manual (IMM)

* * * * *

2 Conditions for Mailing

* * * * *

240 First-Class Mail International

241 Description and Physical Characteristics

* * * * *

241.2 Physical Characteristics

241.21 Physical Standards--Letters

* * * * *

241.217 Nonmachinable Surcharge

    [Revise the first sentence of 241.217 by changing the fee to 
$0.21.]

243 Prices and Postage Payment Methods

243.1 Prices

* * * * *

243.13 Destinating Countries and Price Groups

* * * * *
Exhibit 243.13
First-Class Mail International Price Groups
    [Revise Exhibit 243.13 by changing the Price Group for Israel to 
Price Group 5:]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Country                            Price group
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Israel..................................................               5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

3 Extra Services

310 Certificate of Mailing

* * * * *

313 Fees

313.1 Individual Pieces

    [Revise 313.1 by changing the fees as follows:]
    The fee for certificates of mailing for ordinary First-Class Mail 
International items and ordinary Priority Mail International parcels is 
$1.20 for pieces listed individually on PS Form 3817, Certificate of 
Mailing. The fee for three or more pieces individually listed on PS 
Form 3877, Firm Mailing Book, or an approved customer-provided manifest 
is $0.44 per piece. Each additional copy of PS Form 3817 or firm 
mailing bills is available for $1.20.

313.2 Bulk Pieces

    [Revise the table in 313.2 by changing the fees as follows:]
* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 1,000 pieces.........................................        $6.80
Each additional 1,000 pieces or fraction...................         0.79
Duplicate copy.............................................         1.20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

330 Registered Mail

* * * * *

333 Fees and Indemnity Limits

333.1 Registration Fees

    [Revise 333.1 by changing the fee to $12.95.]
* * * * *

340 Return Receipt

* * * * *

343 Fee

    [Revise the first sentence of 343 by changing the fee to $2.40.]
* * * * *

350 Restricted Delivery

* * * * *

353 Fee

    [Revise 353 by changing the fee to $4.75.]
* * * * *

380 Supplemental Services

381 International Reply Coupons

* * * * *

381.3 Selling Price and Exchange Value

    [Revise the first sentence of 381.3a to change the price to $2.20.]
* * * * *

382 International Business Reply Service

* * * * *

382.4 Fees

    The fees for IBRS are as follows:
    [Revise items 382.4a and b to change prices as follows:]
    a. Envelopes up to 2 ounces: $1.50.
    b. Cards: $1.00.
* * * * *

7 Treatment of Inbound Mail

710 U.S. Customs Information

* * * * *

712 Customs Clearance and Delivery Fee

* * * * *

712.3 Amount of Postal Service Fee

    [Revise item 712.3 to change the fee to $5.60.]
* * * * *

Country Price Groups and Weight Limits

* * * * *
    [Revise the country listing for Israel by changing the Price Group 
for First-Class Mail International as follows:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Global Express Guaranteed  Express Mail International         Priority Mail             First-Class Mail
                                         --------------------------------------------------------      International \1\             International
                 Country                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                           Price group    Max. wt.     Price group    Max. wt.                    Max. wt.                   Max. wt.\2\
                                                           (lbs.)                      (lbs.)      Price group     (lbs.)      Price group   (ozs./lbs.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Israel..................................            6            70             8            44             8            44             5         3.5/4
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

Individual Country Listings

* * * * *

Country Conditions for Mailing

* * * * *

First Class Mail International (240)

* * * * *

Postcards (241.22)

    [For each country, with the exception of Canada and Mexico, for 
which postcards are available, change the fee to $1.00. For Canada and 
Mexico change the fee to $0.80.]
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 20 to 
reflect

[[Page 39477]]

these changes if our proposal is adopted.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2010-16799 Filed 7-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P